Crime and Arrests - Topics from August, 2009

Leeland Braley is the only prisoner on Georgia’s death row for a Pike County crime.

Braley was convicted of killing Kelli Hammond during a robbery at her Zebulon insurance agency in September 1998. Braley, whose trial was held in Monroe County, was condemned to the ultimate punishment despite pleas from his lawyer to spare his life.

Georgia State Patrol Post 26 in Thomaston investigated two traffic crashes in July in Pike County, with no injuries or deaths. Troopers issued 75 citations including 39 for speeding, 20 seat belt violations and two child restraint violations. They issued 88 warnings.
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State, local and insurance investigators are scrutinizing the blaze that destroyed the Concord area home of murder victim Jimmie “Buzz” Burousas Jr. and his wife and accused killer Teresa Mang-ham Burousas.

State investigators call it arson.

“Based on our observations at the scene we could tell this fire was arson,” Georgia insurance commissioner John Oxendine announced Aug. 11.[Full story »]

Larry Houston Hatchett, 38, of Williamson has been charged with aggravated assault after allegedly chasing down and attacking a man who allegedly stole his motorcycle, according to sheriff's deputies in Pike and Meriwether counties.

Hatchett is well known in Pike County and ran unsuccessfully for the district one post on the county commission in 2006.
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